Troubadour Blond Ale - Brouwerij De Musketiers

pauljmccain

Missouri

4.38/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a golden tawny yellow, as expected from a good blonde. Very fine, foamy head, and great lacing. Settles quickly.

Yeast aroma, kind of a sour smell but not in a bad way, malty.

Very strong spiced fruit taste and malts. Not too much of a hoppy flavor. Complex and sweet once you wait a moment. Very nice.

Excellent, superb mouthfeel. Sits nicely as the flavors progress. Right what I'd wish from a blonde. Perhaps a bit less carbonation, though.

Overall, a very nice blonde ale, with many good characteristics, though nothing stands out in particular.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2011 01:51:36 | More by pauljmccain

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.78/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This Blond Ale pours out a really nice golden yellow color that difficult to see through. The head is quite impressive. It's got some great retention and some good lacing as well. The aroma is sweet smelling and kind of floral, it's very inviting. The taste is a mix of yeast, honey, wild flowers and some malts. This brews mouthfeel is quite soft almost like a wheat ale. It's enjoyable but I personally like the Stout they make much more.

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2011 05:06:44 | More by Knapp85

WVbeergeek

Ohio

4.2/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a clouded golden apricot color with a big thicket of creamy white head foaming thick at least 3 to 4 fingers worth. Into my Chimay chalice with fine even layerd Belgian lacing. Tropical fruit mild citrus layers with a biscuit malt undertone carrying out sweetness with some Belgian candi sugar. Herbal hops are expressed here as well. Flavor is semi sweet pretty balanced effervescent subtle biscuit malt sweetness with grassy/herbal/citric hop additions. A bit of bubblegum/nuttiness from the spicy yeast notes. Mouthfeel is light effervescent medium bodied, highly quaffable great with food since it's so balanced. Overall one of the better balanced Belgians I've come across their typically super sweet without much balance in the flavors this pulls off hoppy, light malt, and spicy yeast with ease...a really nice beer will come again.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2011 00:25:50 | More by WVbeergeek

smcolw

Massachusetts

4.13/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Foamy head that settles slowly, leaving plenty of chunky lace on the glass.

Mildly sour aroma. Yeasty. Pale malts predominate with hop only being a suggestion.

A smooth beer with plenty of pale malt base. Letting the beer rest on my tongue brings out two things: 1. the mild sourness shows up. 2. lots of spritziness. The body is rich enough to handle the high carbonation. The aftertaste starts with a touch of bitterness, but a light sourness starts to emerge. Overall, a very nice complexity.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2011 22:47:48 | More by smcolw

sdkuhn

Illinois

4.35/5  rDev +9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from 11.2 oz bottle into a pint glass.

Beatiful hazy caramel color with large thick white foamy head.

Smells delicious. Toasted malt and a little nutty with a touch of yeast.

Taste - Perfect balance of maltiness and just enough bitterness. Hides the 6.50% well.

The best BPA I've had to date - not saying much yet since I'm a novice, but I really enjoyed and will definitely drink again.

Only downside is cost - about $4 for the single bottle at local Binny's.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2011 18:19:26 | More by sdkuhn

donkeyrunner

Massachusetts

4.05/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Expiration date on cap top of 7/7/12. Pours clear gold with a thick mashed 'tater head. Dollops of retention leave lacey caulking down the grass.

Light grain, rustic yeasty spice and green, freshly peeled banana aroma. Apricot fuzz and tropical fruit sweetness. A little musty.
Tastes similarly of green banana, light grain, pepper and a palette cleansing dryness. Good stuff. Not that complex, just darn tasty.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2010 00:57:12 | More by donkeyrunner

zeff80

Missouri

4.43/5  rDev +11%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

A - Poured out a slightly hazy, golden-orange color with a two-finger, khaki-colored head of foam. The long lasting head had many tiny bubbles and receded to leave thin rings of sticky lace.

S - It smelled fruity and slightly phenolic. Strong yeasty notes with some caramel, too.

T - It tasted fruity, spicy and yeasty wild some mild bitterness from the hop presence. It had a sweet caramel backbone, too.

M - It was crisp, sharp and smooth. A dry Belgian ale with a medium body.

D - This is really a great Belgian Pale Ale. One of the best of this style.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2010 03:40:32 | More by zeff80

jsprain1

Minnesota

4.38/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A- pours a tremendously hazy golden, with a thick long lasting clumpy, rocky head. Precisely what pale ales should look like. Hard for me to imagine better.
S- A bit sweet on the noese with some lingering pepper.
T- Somewhat spicy (clove) mixed with fruity flavors (peach is immediate response). Some earthy yeastyness in finish.
M- Not as creamy as many belgians. would have liked perhaps a bit more substance. Bubbly.
D- hides alcohol well. Very drinkable and very delicious. Belgium wins again.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2010 22:24:33 | More by jsprain1

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.25/5  rDev -18.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to drabmuh for picking this bottle up for me. Served in a Hill Farmstead wine glass.

Pour brings a golden-bodied beer with a super large and foamy heady, although it doesn't last for too long, eventually settling into a bit of white whip atop the beer with dotted spots around the sides of the glass. The nose is light fruits with some pear and banana, followed by a dash of spice and a bit of light earth. A hint of peach in there as well.

The flavor is somewhat mellow with a bit of earthy and floral character in addition the fruit, which is more prominent. Notes of cantaloupe and melon pervade along with some extra-light toffee. The carbonation is fairly mellow and this has a pretty light body. This drinks well and is definitely complex, but it didn't all meld for me, and I didn't particularly care for the honeydew/cantaloupe-type flavors.

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2010 01:34:54 | More by Thorpe429

jrallen34

Illinois

4.03/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap in Antwerp into a Troubadour glass....Pours a dark honey gold with a big fluffy white head. Thick but spotty lacing...An aroma of lemons and yeast, not bad but a tad boring after a bit...The taste is more yeast and lemons, again not bad, actually after awhile I begin to dig it. However, there is an aftertaste that is half chalk half medicinal that grates on me after awhile.

A flavorful but commonish blonde that I did enjoy. I would drink this again.

Serving type: on-tap

11-30-2010 03:38:38 | More by jrallen34

drabmuh

Maryland

4.38/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Fresh bottle, this beer reminded me a lot of Duvel. It's quite good.

Beer is yellow and hazy with a big white head that that leaves a lot of lacing on the glass. Carbonation moderate, looks good.

Beer smells bready and estery with mild bitterness.

Beer is medium to light in body and smooth and thin and mildly sweet. The midpalate is populated with esters and the finish is light and airy. Its moderately bitter and overall quite nice. I'd have it again.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2010 00:03:58 | More by drabmuh

cjacobsen

Illinois

3.6/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 2 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Poured from a bottle into a pint glass

This beer poured a golden orange color with a very frothy white head on it. It was tough to really see what this beer was going to be all about because of the blizzard of sediment. I didn't know whether to drink it or spoon it out.

It smelled sweet and floral. Had hints of yeast and wheat in it.

The taste was about what it smelled like. Sweet up front and kind of malty but it was smooth and consistent throughout.

The mouthfeel was very smooth and didn't have any bite to it.

This was a relatively easy drinker but definitely one of those that I wish my glass was a black glass as to not see the floodwater effect that I was consuming. I'd be interested in trying this on tap or out of another bottle sans-sediment. I think without the imparted yeast flavor that this beer would be a lot better.

Serving type: bottle

10-19-2010 13:45:07 | More by cjacobsen

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

3.63/5  rDev -9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottle: Poured a dirty beige color ale with a medium size foamy head with good retention and some lacing. Aroma of lightly spicy yeast with notes of medium sweet malt backbone is interesting. Taste is a good mix between some spicy yeast with notes of bready Belgian malt with a well balanced level of sweetness. Body is quite full with low level of filtration and great carbonation with no apparent alcohol. Nothing extraordinary but well brewed nonetheless.

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2010 02:33:13 | More by Phyl21ca

SolomonGrundy

California

3.68/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Wacky stuff. I'll just say that right off the bat. Clear orange-ish amber, great lacing and a nice, creamy head. Spicy aromas dominated by caramel and banana but tempered with some cinnamon and clove. Basically banana nut bread. Flavor profile is enormous, and the carbonation increases the spicy characteristics. Lots of beautiful Belgian-y goodness, and some added craziness with the banana nut-bread flavor carrying throughout. Will be a little sweet for many, and the finish is a tad thin, but I like it. Slightly pricey at $3.49/11.2oz. bottle, so drinkability suffers. Worth tracking down, though.

What I like Most: The crazy banan nut bread flavor.

What I like Least: The price, mostly.

Verdict: Worth trying for its unique qualities, but not elite by any means.

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2010 05:04:58 | More by SolomonGrundy

DaveBlack

Virginia

4.72/5  rDev +18.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A: Pours a cloudy amber color with about half an inch of fluffy head which sticks around a while before fading away leaving some very nice lacing.

S: Very yeasty smelling with some apple or pear. The yeasty smell is very much on the forefront.

T: Candied fruit and lots of it. Malty, sweet and really excellent. Some hops on the finish keeps it from being overwhelming sweet. really remarkable.

M: Heavy, rich, and so thick that you can almost chew it. Very substantial, but still manages to appear balanced.

D: Amazingly drinkable. This might become my new favorite Belgian ale. Just incredible.

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2010 23:37:27 | More by DaveBlack

trbergman

Illinois

4.08/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

330mL bottle poured into a cervoise.

A - Translucent amber-gold with two fingers of white, meringue-like head - nice lace. Some suspended particulate matter detracts a bit.

S - Bready, crusty pilsner malt aroma with a touch of lemon zest. The yeast adds some white pepper spice and also a subtle suggestion of nuts. It's pleasant enough and inviting, so let's check out the taste.

T - Troubadour Blond is quite bready on the palate, too, but there's a lovely touch of fruit. In addition to lemon zest, I get some apple and pear, with perhaps a hint of apricot. Malt and spicy yeast combine to dry out the finish, and some restrained hop bitterness contributes to the effect. An understated but stately Belgian pale ale.

M - Bottle-conditioned effervescence explodes on the tongue, but after an initial, creamy, rush, it loses a sense of fullness. Rather light on the whole, but not in a bad way.

D - Despite a minor cosmetic flaw, this is an enjoyable beer. After a long stretch of blazing heat and humidity, the weather has taken a milder turn here in Chicago, and Troubadour Blond is a welcome accompaniment. Pair it with some fruit and cheese, or maybe some moules frites, and you have a winner.

Serving type: bottle

08-17-2010 02:09:25 | More by trbergman

bskrtz

Illinois

4.43/5  rDev +11%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured very cold from 11.2 ounce bottle to glass beer challis

A) Glowing gold, cloudy and thick with white billowy head. No floaties or yeasties -- very smooth and consistent

S) Citrus with apple and pear. Sweet bread, pastry, sour dough

T) Sweet stewed fruits, raisons, pear, orange juice. Very smooth

M) Ample carbonation/bottle conditioned fizz, very little alcohol -- well balanced, emphysis on smooth

D) Retains its body and carbonation. Alcohol is moderate. Tastes wonderful. An excellent beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-30-2010 00:25:15 | More by bskrtz

Xul

California

4.33/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours a translucent goldenrod with some amber hues, capped by a foamy two finger white head. Retention is good and some light lacing is left down the glass.

S: Freshly toasted whole wheat bread is the first and strongest aroma, followed by some green apple, lemon zest, pepper and vanilla. It smells very good, but the bready base is a bit too dominant.

T: Light bready malts up front with fruits - banana, green apple and a bit of citrus - along with peppery spice and a touch of clove. Finishes with toasted wheat bread much like the nose began, but with more sweetness. Tastes more balanced than it smells, although both are very good.

M: Light to medium body with lowish carbonation, very smooth but could be a bit more lively on the tongue.

D: Very easy drinking, and with enough going on to keep it interesting. I'll definitely be revisiting this beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2010 00:42:41 | More by Xul

Radome

Spain

3.53/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Served from bottle into glass. The cap had a "Best Before" date of 23/08/08, so it is approximately 2 years old. For a beer of this strength and style, that probably puts it past its prime.
A - Slightly cloudy and a dark golden color. The beer was bottle conditioned and had a large amount of thick, clumped sediment on the bottom. I accepted a little sediment in the glass in order to not leave so much beer behind in the bottle. Head is a dull white and very thin, mostly just a ring around the edge of the glass.
S - Fruit, cotton candy and bubblegum dominate. There is also some spice in the background. Surprisingly, it reminds me of the aroma of Fraoch Heather Ale.
T - Taste has malt, candi sugar sweetness and hops bitterness that is surprisingly assertive. The finish turns suddenly very dry, almost astringent, and grainy.
M - Light body, low carbonation. The body seems too thin for the amount of flavor and hop bitterness.
D - Great aroma, but the taste doesn't live up to it. Perhaps the thin body, dry finish and astringency are a result of this bottle conditioned beer aging past its prime. I'd like to try a younger version for comparison.

Serving type: bottle

06-29-2010 05:48:24 | More by Radome

ultrasupergenius

United Kingdom (England)

3.78/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a .33l bottle, newer label than displayed, the name Troubadour in a script font, and a seal above with a lute on a blue background. No best date.

Wonderful and lively head, quite large, with a long lasting lacing.
Cloudy amber in color, light certainly passes through the glass but cannot see through it. Nice looking beer.

Strong on the aromas - fruit, pears, apple, floral.

Has a definite fruit and sweetness to it. Something on the finish that is interesting - but not wonderful - that I cannot quite put my finger (palette) on. Pectin?

Really full in the mouth with a great balance. Goes down easy.

Recommended - despite being in a crowded market of Belgian Blondes.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2009 13:10:06 | More by ultrasupergenius

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.15/5  rDev -21.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

There's sweet.... and then there's more sweet. And the beer is quite sweet also.

A very hazy pour brings deep golden, orange, rusty color and with a thick viscocity. Good head formation brings on a solid white head with good lacing. I might need a spoon for this one.

Heavy malts and confectionate aromas dominate the rim. A bold estery balance of peaches, pears, and appricots further emphasize the bready sweetness and yeasty scents.

A heavy sweet bread flavor is sugar soaked with a powdered sugar and sugar cookie flavor. Heavy yeasty taste gives the beer even more weight and richness to the malts and Belgian sugars. Sweetness is heavy to the extent that it easily hides the spicy phenols and moderate alcohols.

The texture is a bit heavier and richer than most Belgian Blondes, and approaching near-cloying levels. A well made beer but the the yeast and sugars prove too much for a second bottle.

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2009 14:22:04 | More by BEERchitect

augustgarage

California

4.35/5  rDev +9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 330mL bottle into my Troubadour tulip glass. I've seen three label designs for this beer, this one is the full color version of the troubadour sticking his tongue out. An older bottle, it has a "best before" date of 8/23/2008 (over a year ago). I've had this several times though, and this sample hasn't really suffered from the age.

Liquid is between goldenrod and ochre with amber highlights and a towering ricotta colored head, receding to a tall hunchbacked cap, with intricate copper-stained (from the bottle-bottom yeast) streaks of lacing. If you had to drive through it, expect poor visibility thanks to the large quantity of yeast globules surging throughout the glass (brings to mind Fantastic Voyage).

Malt and esters in the nose, just as you would expect from the style. Banana, strawberry, vanilla, ginger, with rising bread dough and hints of champagne vinegar and young sourdough starter combine into a well integrated whole.

Slightly sweet toasted bread, fruit again (same as in the nose), and a pleasant array of spices (black pepper, clove, cardamom, and so on) on the palate. A little citrus, and mild yeast. Peppery, slightly dry finish, though the sweetness from malt persists. Well balanced - potent yet restrained all at once.

Medium-light bodied with medium-light carbonation, very middle of the road just as you would expect.

Gone in a flash.

With the slightly higher ABV than usual for the style, the poor clarity (unfiltered ale, after all) and the flavor profile, this beer transcends the style without going so far as to require a re-classification as a specialty. One of the "sleeper" ales that quietly gets everything right.

Serving type: bottle

09-05-2009 22:14:14 | More by augustgarage

rtepiak

Poland

3.93/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

a mild blond ale both in sweet and bitter. a tad fruit with a wonderful golden tarnish murk. a beautiful head that contracts into a dense doughy mass. very soft nose of honey malt, grass, lemon, candy, and dough. the palate is just about that but not as robust as expected. not as much malt character. not as hop foward. a bit sweet. may be a poorly circulated bottle. nice spices with a dry coriander, clove finish. still has the finish of a blonde that sat around for too long. will have to try again.

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2009 18:55:51 | More by rtepiak

zosoworm

California

4.2/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Aroma: initially spicy and earthy, then moves to a sweet malt character

Appearance: Hazy deep gold color

Flavor: Sweet pils malt flavor backed by citrus hop bitterness. A dry finish with a slight alcohol warming

Mouthfeel: Creamy, medium to high carbonation

Overall: I liked this beer. well balanced with sweet flavors to a dry finish. A nice beer to drink when it warm out.

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2009 03:05:28 | More by zosoworm

jdhilt

New Hampshire

4.15/5  rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a five finger pillowy cream head that fades slowly leaving a good lace. Almost cloudy pale amber color. Light carbonation and medium bodied. Slight peach nose. Flavor is sweet peach, this would be good on a hot day [here we are freezing our ass with a high of 55 in mid May]. $3.99 for a 330ml bottle from Beverage Warehouse Winooski, VT. [In Aug 2003 this cost $4.29!!] Best by Mar 3, 2011.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2009 22:39:55 | More by jdhilt